Get Towards The Theories And Practice Of The Dance Art

Three broad categories of dance theory, as you may find them described in universities or dance institutes, are philosophy (concerning the aesthetic meanings behind dance, or semiotics), choreology (movement analysis and description), sociology (regarding the role of dance in society and culture).

The focus of modern dance is expression, rather than following a rigid set of postures or technical positions that ballet dancers are trained in. Modern dance movements are considered freeform and fluid, and are often inspired by other dance styles—like African dance, ballet, and folk dance.

Dance is a fully-fledged art form, belonging to the 'performing arts', a goal in itself and a means of allowing a human being to express his inner feelings, thoughts and experiences. Dance is a natural form of self-expression: the body expresses itself naturally and so therefore does the spirit.

These two concepts of the art of dance—dance as a powerful impulse and dance as a skillfully choreographed art practiced largely by a professional few—are the two most important connecting ideas running through any consideration of the subject.

Therefore centring, alignment, gravity, use of breath, contraction and release, fall and recovery, balance and off-balance, tension and relaxation, opposition, succession, spiral, swing and momentum are all recognised principles that I have explored in my study of contemporary technique.

Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoire of movements, or by its historical period or place of origin.

Rudolf Laban, also called Rudolf Von Laban, (born Dec. 15, 1879, Bratislava, Austria-Hungary [now in Slovakia]—died July 1, 1958, Weybridge, Surrey, Eng.), dance theorist and teacher whose studies of human motion provided the intellectual foundations for the development of central European modern dance.